Open-work assembly and girder therefor



Oct. 28, 1969 F OTTO ETAL 3,474,588

OPEN-WORK ASSEMBLY AND GIRDER THEREFOR Filed March 3, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet. 1

INVENTORS fkz Orro AOLF A LWL/C B) WW2 8 MM A TT'ORNEYS Oct. 28, 1969 QTTQ ETAL OPEN-WORK ASSEMBLY AND GIRDER THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS fZE/ Orm fioLF IVEAL/Cl/ ATTORNEYS Oct. 28, 1969 F- OTTO ETAL OPEN-WORK ASSEMBLY AND GIRDBR THEREFOR Filed March a, 19s? '3 Sheets-Sheet a ATTORNEYS United States Patent O1 3,474,588 Patented Oct. 28, 1969 lice US. Cl. 52650 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Structural elements for ceiling or similar constructions comprising girder means consisting of pairs of half girders detachably connected to vertical supports at the ends thereof, the vertical supports also being connectable to other girder means.

The present invention relates to a structural element for ceiling constructions or the like.

One of the objects of the invention is to create a structural element which is of simpler development than known elements of this type and which can be assembled with identical elements to permit a ceiling or building construction to be assembled in a very short time.

In order to achieve this purpose, the structural element in accordance with the invention is characterized by a vertical rod bearing a connecting head at both its upper end and its lower end, and by a horizontal girder one end of which is fastened in detachable manner to the two connecting heads while its other end is provided with members for connection to another vertical rod, the connecting heads of the vertical rod having parts for the attachment of additional girders. The preferred structural element made in accordance with the invention consists essentially of two parts, namely, the vertical rod and the girder. By the simple and rapid assembling together of elements of this type, it is possible to erect a horizontally extending very rigid construction of high load-bearing capacity, in which connection the most varied possibilities enter into question such as frame, skeleton, massed and suspended construction.

Further details with respect to the invention can be noted from the following description and drawings:

One embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows the structural element in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a part of a roof construction in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a section along the line III-III of FIG. 2.

The structural element shown in FIG. 1 consists of two half girders 5 and 6 which are of triangular shape, a web 7 and a flange 8 surrounding same, and they are connected with each other by bolts 9 at their flattened apices. To the two ends of the girder means are fastened supports 10 which consist of a pipe and connecting heads 11 placed on the ends of the pipe. To the half girders 5- and 6 there are firmly welded plates 12 which rest against the connecting heads 11, and through which the half girders 5 and 6, respectively, are connected by bolts 13 to the connecting heads 11.

One possible roof construction is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The structural elements which consist of the triangular half girders 5 and 6 are assembled by means of the supports 10 to form a framework of square lattice work. At the four points 14 the frame is supported by four cantilever beams 15 which in turn are anchored to a column 16 and supported by the latter.

It should be evident, of course, that the example shown can be modified in various manners. Thus, instead of a square lattice work as seen in plan view, there can be a rectangular, hexagonal or triangular pattern. The webs of the half girders can be provided with openings (not shown) in order to reduce the weight thereof and to provide space for pipelines. Finally, the half girders can also consist of a plurality of pipes (round or rolled section) assembled together to form a lattice work. For particularly heavy loads, the frame, in accordance with the invention, can be reinforced by a second frame developed in corresponding manner. Underbracings and reinforcements are also possible without modification. The frame, in accordance with the invention, being a flat supporting framework, is very flexible and is suitable even in the case of irregular arrangement of the supports, particularly for large distances between the supports and high loads. The structural element in accordance with the invention can also be used, for instance, as a railing (not shown), in which case a plurality of structural elements are arranged in a row one behind the other.

Finally a wall, for instance a window wall, can also be assembled in accordance with the invention with the use of the new structural element by connecting the desired number of structural elements together in horizontal and vertical directions and providing window openings, in a suitable arrangement. The connecting heads are so developed in accordance with the invention that another connecting head can be placed in each of them.

One important advantage of the system is that it is not a zipper system, i.e., any desired girder or rod can be removed from the system without it having to be opened up to such point. The bipartite development of the girder is advantageous in view of the fact that a stressfree fitting in position is possible upon assembling.

What is claimed is:

'1. In a structural member for ceiling construction or the like, the combination including a pair of substantially flat generally triangular girder members, each member including an elongated side and a pair of inclined sides diverging from the ends of the elongated side toward the center of the members, said inclined sides being joined at their contiguous ends by an apex, said members being oppositely arranged, means connecting said members at their corresponding apices, tubular means spanning the corresponding ends of said members, heads sleeved on the ends of said members and having openings therein, bolt means extending through openings in the ends of said members and into said first mentioned openings interconnecting said girder members and said tubular means to form a structural member, whereby similar structural members may be interconnected thereto.

2. In a ceiling construction or the like, a framework lattice assembly comprising a plurality of end-toend, interconnected girders, each girder comprising a structural member including a pair of substantially flat generally triangular girder members, each member including an elongated side and a pair of inclined sides diverging from the ends of the elongated side toward the center of the members, said inclined sides being joined at their contiguous ends by an apex, said members being oppositely arranged, means connecting said members at their corresponding apices, tubular means spanning the corresponding ends of said members, heads sleeved on the ends of said members and having openings therein, bolt means extending through openings in the ends of said members and into said first mentioned openings interconnecting said girder members and said tubular means to form a structural member, fasteners interconnecting the contiguous ends of adjacent girders, said interconnected girders being capable of being mounted on cantilever support beams which can be anchored to a column support.

3. A structural member assembly according to claim 1,799,337 4/1931 Warhus 52-634 2 wherein the structural members are connected together 2,308,565 1/1943 Mitchell 52-648 to form a rectangular lattice Work. 2,433,677 12/ 1947 Thomas 52648 X 4. A structural member assembly according to claim 2 wherein the structural members are connected together FOREIGN PATENTS to form geometrical figures having at least three sides. 71 4 3 1914 Germany References Cited HENRY c. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 513,187 1/1894 Joly 52-634 10 1,617,331 2/1927 Hamer 52-636 5 3, 8 9 665 1,768,099 6/1930 Bates 52--636 

